Further Info on HP Slate 500 Tablet PC Delay

HP Slate 500 Tablet PC Delayed … but how long? That’s not only an article title. It’s also a question, caused by puzzlement. HP’s email cites a delay of 10 to 15 business days (2 to 3 weeks). But HP’s order status page, linked in HP’s email, shows a ship date of November 14, only a 2 day delay delay from the original ship date of November 12.

HP’s email, in addition to the order status page link, also gave a phone number, 800-888-0292 (option 3), to obtain further information. The good news was I was only on hold for about 5 minutes, and when I got through I spoke to a seemingly knowledgeable rep.

Now for the bad news. The rep told me the new ship date would be 4 weeks from the order date, which in my case was October 25.

I asked the rep why the order status page had different information. She said that the order status page was not updated that often and calling as I had done would be the way to obtain the most up to date information.

Comments in a SlashGear article offer an interesting conspiracy theory. HP is marketing the Slate 500 as an enterprise device. Perhaps HP received a large order from a business customer, and is moving that order ahead of individual orders like mine.

I did ask the rep about this possibility. I received the answer I expected: “I have no information on that.”

Well, conspiracy or not, it looks like I won’t be receiving the Slate 500 until around Turkey Day. Unless there are further delays. The rep did cheerfully promise I would be notified if (when?) there are further delays.

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[...] of the device’s shipment in our blog post yesterday. The good news is that my friend from the Genghis Khent blog had pinged me to give me some updates to the situation–you can also visit his blog for more [...]

Found it on HP US web site
- Go to Support & Drivers support
- See support and troubleshooting information
- Search for HP slate 500
- Select Discover and use a product
- Click on HP slate 500 Tablet PC – Overview

You shold see the WWAN and GPS options listed under Wireless support as well as links to US and worldwide specs for the slate.

Finally looked at those Overview items referencing ptional WWAN support – why would 3G and GPS be mutually exclusive? In fact, in my prior life as an iPad owner (the shame, the shame), they were in fact integrated – no 3G, no GPS. Frankly, I am TIRED of carrier abuse in having to have either separate 3G accounts for each of my devices, or a “PREMIUM” for tethering. If I only get 2gb of data, WHY does the carrier have the right to dictate how I use them (other than “those with the money make the rules”)? I have been told by AT&T that they do this because a tethered notebook USES more data. Gee, let me see – you’re going to bill me for 2gb whether I use it or not; can’t carry it over from month to month; but HOPEFULLY I won’t even use it in the first place? Ok – when will they start charging me for the air I breath?